Machine for making artificial-fuel briquets.



PATENTED MAR. 1 7

G. M. PENN.

MACHINE FOR MAKING ARTIFICIAL FUEL BRIQUETS.

APPLIUATION FILED NOV 25, 1902.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

N0 MODEL.

WE mm No. '7z s,'116 0. .l

G. M. PENN.

' MACHINE FOR MAKING ARTIFICIAL FUEL BRIQUETS.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 25, 1902.

Wifgasses:

PATENTBHMAR. 17, 1903,

No. 723,150. PATENTED MAR. 17,

G. M. PENN.

MACHINE FOR MAKING ARTIFICIAL FUEL BRIQUETS. APPLICATION FILED NOV'.25,1902. N0 MODEL 4 SHEETS SHEBT' 8.

lijnrrnn hrra'rns PATENT [@rrrcn.

cannon nnnniunn runs, oronARLo'rTE, MICHIGAN.

Nanci-nun on ime AR l'lFiOiAL-FUEL BRIQUETS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent NOI723,15 O, dated. March 17, 1903.

Application filed November 25, 1902. Serial No. 132,804. (N anm To (LN, whoop it nu/, (mm/ow:

Be it known that LHnonon MERRIHUE PEN), a citizen of the lx'nitcd States, residing: at Charlotte, in thecounty of Eaton and State of Michigan, havein vented a new and useful Machine for MakingArtificial-Fuel llriquets, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to machinesfor making artificial-fuelbriquets. 4

The object of the invention is in a ready, simple, rapid, thoroughly feasible,-and practical manner to compress divided combustible material, such aspeat, into coherent form and to present it in such shape that in born ing. it: will not disintegrate, but will retain its form and burn from the exterior after the manner of ordinary coal.

\Vith these and other ob t.-ts in View as It U will-appear as the nature of the invention is 1 2o ally, stated, in a machine comprising means i'or molding: the material into blocks or bribetterunderstood, the same consists, generquets ofdefinitc shape and size, means for forcing the prod not from the mold, and means for conveying the prod uct from the machine. Tlhe invention further contemplates means for supplying the material to a feedchambcr,

means for forcing the material from the charm berinto a mold, means for cutting off the supply of material when the predetermined amount has been fed to the mold, means for forcing the finished product from the-mold,

means for permitting escape of the product 'fronrthe fcedchainber, and means for con veying the product from the machine.

'llieinvention contemplates the provision of means for. the various adjustment of its parts, thereby' to cause the timin' thereof to be sequential and exact. 1 In the accompanying part of this specification, and. in which like characters of reference indicate correspontw ,ing parts, there is illustrated one form of embodiment of the invention capable of carryingthe same into practical operation, it being understood that the elements therein exhibited may be varied or changed as to shape,

proportion, and 2. act manner of assemblage without departing from the spirit thereof.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a view in vertical longitudinal section through a machine characterized by the present invention. Fig. 2 is a view in pian, partly in section, viewed 111 above. Fig. 3 is a view in transverse drawings, formim. a

section taken on the line 3 3 ofl ig. 2 and looking in thedirection of the arrow thereon, showing, more particularly the mold and feedin mechanism. Fig. at is a perspective detail view of the mold. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the plunger. Fig. 6 is a perspective detail view of the cut-0E and the ejecting mechanism. Fig. 7is a viewin plan, showing more particularly the means for preventing the material from escaping into the interior of the machine. The invention embodies plunger-operating mechanism, feed-outed and ejecting mechanism and means for operating the same, a mold-clearing device and means for operating the same, and feed and discharge mech- 7o anisms, and in order to facilitate an under standing of the invention the machine will be described under the headings above given and in the order named, after which a fnlldescription of the entire machine will be supplied.

Referring to the drawings, and particularly to Figs. 1 and 2 thereof, 1 and 2 designate two mastenwheels supported by suitable shafts 3,journaled in bearings l c-armed bythe frame of the machine. 'lhese wheels are driven by a train'of gearing comprising two pinions 5, meshing with the master-wheels and carried by a shaft 6, mounted in suitable bearings 7 on the frame. Rigidly keyed to said shaft are two gears 8, which mesh with two pinions 9, carried by a shaft 10, mounted in suitable bearings 11 on the frame, the said shaft car-- rying at one end a gear 12, which meshes with a pinion 13, carried on the drive-shaft 9o 14, upon which is mounted a band-wheel 15, driven by any suitable source of power, (not necessary to be shown,)the shaft 14 being provided with a suitable clutch l6, actuated by a lever 17 in the usual manner. The 5 master-wheels are connected by a wrist-pin 17, upon which is journaled a sleeve l8,con-. stituting one terminal of a lever 19, the other terminal of which is fitted between links 20 and 21, which, together with the lever 19, 005- [cc stitnte a toggle-joint. As shown in Fig. 7, there are two links 20 and 21, each consisting of two members, between which the lever is held by a knuckle-joint 22 in the usual manner. The lower terminals of the links 20 are journaled upon a rod 23, mounted in an abutment 24, secured in the upper portion of the frame of the machine, and the lower termito prevent interference with the material is of the links 2,. are journaled upon abar carried by a plunger26, which, as shown in detail in Fig. 5, consists of two spaced members 27 and a head 28, the plunger being mounted for reciprocaiory movement upon a plate 29, secured to the top of the frame. In

order to regulate the throw of the plunger, and thus increase or diminish its compressive powers, the lever and each of the links is constructed of two members which overlap, the overlapped portions having their opposed faces serrated and provided with longitudinal slots 30, 31, and 32, through which are passed pairs of bolts 33, 34,.and 35, as clearly shown in 1, nuts carried by the bolts to clamp the serrated portions firmly together in their adjusted positions.

nrorn the description thus far given it will he seen that as the master-wheels rotate the lever 19 will alternately be lowered and raised, andon the first-named movement the plunger will be projected to eliect compress ing of the peat or other material and on the other movement will be retracted to permit a fresh charge of the peat to be supplied to the feed-chalt-nicer.

The top e'tth'e frame is provided with a hopper 36, terminating in a-neck 37, which communicates with the feed-chamber 38, and the head of the plunger when at the limit of its return stroke is disposed substantially in alinement with the rear wall ofthe neck, thus using supplied to the feed-chamber. Worklug within the eed-chamber is a combined :t'eeii-cnt-o and ejecting device (shown in detail in comprising a plate 39, having two a pending fiangesOand 41, the flange 4O constit ting a gate or cut-olf to prevent loose material from dropping through when theplunger recedes to take a new charge and the flange l constituting an actuator for the ejector 12. The plate 39 is provided with lateral extensions 13, to which are securely attached the upper ends of a pair of rods 44, the lower ends of which are rigidly secured to a bar 45. The rods 44: are mounted in boxes Fig. 3', secured to the inner sides of the er members of the frame, and each carries a pair of adjustable collars 47, the function 0:? which will presently'appeai'. The ejector comprises a plate 48, near-the terminals of which are secured two rods 49, which extend through openings in the plate 39 on.

each side of the flange 4-1,:1ud each carries at its upper end a nut and a Washer 51, and

. mounted upon the rods between the washers and upper side of the plate are coiled springs of loose material from the'machine on the return stroke of the plunger. The mechanism for actuating the gate and the ejector cornprises a pair of tuggles 55, the lower links of which are pivoted to cars 56, carried by the bar 45 and the upper links 57 to bosses 58, Fig. 3, on the outer. sides of the feed-chamber. Connecting with the knuckle-pin '59 of each pair of toggles is one member 60 of a. twoarmed lever 61, said members beiug'spaced at the proper distance apart by a spacing-block 62. (Clearly-shown in Fig. 2.) The lower end of each member of the. lever is formed into an 64, carried by the inner faces of the -masterwheels near their peripheries. The lever is :supported at its lower end for rocking movement by a link 65, having a fulcrum-pin 66, connecting the lower terminals of said lever, the lower end of the link being fulcrumed upon an adjustable block 67, as clearlyshown in Fig. 1, the block being reciprocated through the medium of a'screw 68 and operating to raise or lower the toes to effect their proper adjustment wit'h'relation to the lugs 64. It will be seen that as the master-wheels revolve the lugs 64 will engage with the toes 63, andthus straighten the toggles connecting with the feed-cut-0if and ejecting mechanisms, causing the bar 45 to be depressed and forcing the gate down into the grooves of the feed-box, thus Qo prevent escape of loose material when the plunger recedes. On initial downward movement of the plate 39 the plate 48 will be held in the recess 53 in the feedchamber by the springs 52; but by the time the springs have ceased to exert upward pressure the flange 41 engages with the plate 48 and forces it downward, thus to free the briquets from the mold should they be caught or stick therein. To break the joints of the toggles 55, a trip device is provided in conjunction with counterweights. The trip deupward-curved toe 63 to be engaged bylugs vice comprises a lever 69, fulcrumed intermediate of its ends upon a hanger 70, secured to the under side of the top of the frame. The lower end of this lever is slotted to receive a pin 71, passing through the members of the lever 61, as shown clearly in Fig. 2, and the upper end of the lever is provided with a curved toe 72, located in the path of movement of the plunger-head. As will presently appear, when the p unger recedes to permit a fresh charge of material to the feedchamber its rear end coptacts with the too 72 and rocks the lever 69, whereupon the lever 61 will be moved rearward, breaking the.

the free end of the flexible connection carryiug counterweights 75, of which there may be anyvdesired number. It will be seen that whenthe joints of the toggles 55 are broken the con'nterweights will instantly exert an upward pullupon the bar45, cansing it to lift and bring the feed-cutoff and iejectingmechanisms back to their normal position.

,The mold 76 may he provided with any de' sired number of pockets 7 7. to formthe hriqttetmand is rigidly secured withinthe rear portion ofthe feed-chamber. Baclcof the nield is the clearing device therefor, consist ing of ahead 77;,.having recesses 78 to recei ve-the. walls of the mold-petitions. This it head is. reciprocated through a rock-,lever 79,-fulcrumed on a bar 80 on the under side of the feed-chamber, said bar having rigidly seouredto it a pairof arms 81, the outer end I oteachyof which is provided with a yoke 82 to straddlethe rods 44. hetweenthe collars the head and has, by preference, its forward .1 facerounded to present a cam-surface.

47, asclearly shown in Figs. 2 and 3. The roekelev'or is disposed within a recess 83 in a and will depress them. therel ythrowing the rock-lever fohvi'ard and mevingthe head into the mold. Thecollars are to be spaced such a distance apart that the rock lcver will have factuatedihe head to force the molded hriq quets fromthevmold before the ejector be j gins to operate-and this timing of the parts lars andalso of the adjustinghlock 67.

can be determined by means oi the said. col- The under-side of the iecdrchatnber is closed by awslide 84, theisideswof which are provided withgnides Bitto work in recesses 85in the inner opposed faces of the side walls of the fecdschamher, asshown in Fig. 3. The slide iskactuatertto release the finished; hriquets through the medium oi' links 86, one terminal of cachet which is fnlcrumed on brackets 87 feed cut-off-acjtnating toggles.

seen thatas the members of. the said. toggles. are straightened through the mediumv ot' the lever 61 the links 86 will be projected for so i t wardly, thereby moving. the slide 84 to per on the under side-hf the slide and the oppo sitetcrminals to the knuckle-pin 59 of the It will he mit escaped the finished briquets;

t a Itis tobe understood that allof the parts j .sofardescrihedare to be timed insuch matrnor that their action will be sequential. The means for removing the finished briqnets from themachine comprises a sprocke'tkchain88, constituting a belt which is disposed in atrough 89 beneath the teed-chamher, thebelt having vertical blades 90 secured to it bywhich to convey the material along to the place of discharge. The trough has aninclined lateral projection 91, as shown ished tirodnct onto the conveycrbelt. .Jbelt is,

inhi'gl i, which will operate to guidethe fin This disposed at right anglemto the manhineand is driven by a shaft est supported 'terial onto the cylinders.

. ately over the hopper 36.

in suitable bearings 93 on the side of the supportingframe, saidshaft carrying at one,

end a sprocket-wheel 93, which meshes with a sprocket-chain The shaft 92 is driven from the shaft 10 through the medium of bevel gears 94: and 95, as clearly shown in Fig. 2.

In order to place-the peat or .other material '75 in best condition for compression, it is necessary that it should be in a finely-divided state, and to accomplish this a crushing or pulverizing mill is employed in connection with the machine, as shown in Fig. i This millcom- 8o prises a hopper 96, into which the material is fed and in which is disposed two crushingcylinders 97 of any preferred construction. Above the crushing-cylinders and projecting from opposite sides of the hopper-are defiecting-plates (l8, wliiclroperate to direct the ma- Beneath the cylinders and in the throat of the hopper is a screen 99, pivoted to the throat of the hopper at 100,

the said screen having a vertical vibratory motion imparted to it through a cam 1t)1 Dipping into the throat of the hopper is an endless hucketfconveyer 102, which is arranged on an incline and discharges immediscreen is to shed the material of any stones or large lumps which have escaped the-action or" the crushing-cylinders, the vibratory motion of the screen operating to feed only finely;

divided materialinto the throat of the chute, ico

whcnceitis elevated and discharged into the hopper oi themachine in a manner well understood. t t m In order to prevent escape of thetmaterial between the members of the plunger-head [o5 actuating toggles when the plunger is within the feed-chamber, a plate 103 is-pro vided which is hinged-to the dpper forwa d portion of the plunger-diced and rests upon the toggle members 21, the sides of the plunger ber10 ingprovidedwith recesses 104, in which the plate will rest when the head is in the chamher, thus to prevent any interference with the walls of the neck of the feedrhopper. As will 7 be readily understood by reference toFig. '1, this plate or shield will rise and fall as the" plunger is reciprocated, so as not to present any obstruction to the proper operation of the machine. t

All of the operations ofthe machine are no rapid and certain and the output is offunie form character, is dense, andwhile'bturning readily does not disintegrate, but burns exteriorly in the same manner as ordinary coal.

Having thns described the invention, what I claim is 1. A machine of the character specified,

comprising a feedcham her, means for forcing the material from the chamber, a mold to re" ceive the material, means operable during the [30 return stroke of the forcing means forcutting off the supply of material from the chamber,

and means for forcing the finished product from the amid.

The object of the 2. A machine of the character specified, comprisingafeed-chamber, amold, means for forcing material from the chamber into the mold, means operable during the return move-. ment of the forcing means for cutting off the supply of material from the chamber, means for forcing the finished. product from the mold, and means for discharging the product from the feed-chamber.

3. A. machine of the character specified, comprisinga feed-chamber, a mold, means for forcing material from the chamber into the mold, means operable during the return movement of the forcing means for cutting off the supply of material from the chamber, means for forcing the finished product from the mold, means for permitting escape of the product from the feed-chamber, and means for con veying the product from the machine.

4. A machine of the character specified,

comprising a feed-chamber, means for supplying material to said chamber, a plunger, a stationary mold, means for actuating the plunger to force the material into the mold, means independent of the plunger for forcing the product from the mold, and means for permitting the escape of the product from the feed-chamber.

. the chamber and movable to permit the er-v cape of the product from said chamber.

6. An apparatus of the eharacterspeciiied, comprising a plunger, a toggle for actuating the same, master-wheels for actuating the toggle, a mold, a head coacting with the mold to discharge the finished product, a cut-off and an ejector, a toggle operatingin connection with the cut-off, a lever connecting with the latter toggle and having its lower end fulcrumedin the path of movement of the master-wheels, means carried by the masterwheels to rock the lever and thus to depress the cut-o'fit' and ejector, a rock-lever connected with the mold-clearing head and actuated by the movement of the cut olf, and means actuated by the plunger to break the joint of the cut-off toggle to permit the parts to resume their normal position.

7. In a machine of-the character specified, the combination with a feed-chamber and a mold, of a cut-off and an ejector, a toggle connected with the cut-off, means for operating the toggle to cause the cut-oil to perform its function, and means for breaking the joints of the toggle and causing the automatic return of the cut-oil. and ejector to their normal positions.

8f In a machine of theeharacter specified, j

' the combination with a feed-chamber and a plunger, of a mold, means for forcing the finished product therefrom, a cut-0E and an ejector, a toggle'for actuating the cut-off and the ejector, means for actuating the toggle on the forward movement of the plunger, and in cans actuated by the plunger on its rearward movement to breakthe joints of the toggle.

9. In a machine of the character specified, the combination with a mold and a plunger,

of a master-wheel, a toggle having one of its members operatively connected tl1erewith,t-he members of the toggle being adjustable to varythe throw of the plunger, a cut-elf and an ejector, a toggle for actuating these parts, a lever connected at one end with the lastnamed toggle, an adjustable rocking bearing for the lower end of the lever, and means'can ried-by the master wheel to actuate said lever to cause operation of the cut-elf and ejector.

' 10. Ina machine of the character specified, v

the combination with a feed-chamber and a I plunger working therein, of a eut-ofif and ejeo tor, aframe with which said parts are connected, a toggle operatively connected with the frame, a lever connected with the toggle and having its lower end provided with a toe, an adjustable rocking bearing supporting the lower end of the lever, and a master-wheel for actuating the plunger, said wheel being provided with. meansfor engaging the toe,thus

to actuate the toggle.

11. In a machine of the character specified, the combination with a feed-chamber, of a vertically-movable frame, a spring-retracted ejector carried thereby, adjustable collars carried by the frame, a toggle for operating plunger working therein, a toggle for actuating the plunger, and a shieldpivotally connected with the plunger and adapted to bear upon one of the members of the toggloas theplunger is reciprocated thus to prevent escape 'of material as the plunger enters and leaves the feed-chamber. v I

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as the presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE MERRIHUEFENN.

"Witnesses:

0. W. MoRRELL, C. D. Younes.

my own I have hereto aifixed my signature in 

